Peter Liese: Commission changes track / Climate targets remain, but should be achieved together with industry and people / Bundle of measures to achieve affordable electricity prices for normal consumers and industry / We need a fleet of omnibuses to cut red tape

“The European Union is changing track. I very much support the proposals presented today. We want and need to keep the climate targets, but focus much more on cooperation with industry and citizens while drastically reducing bureaucracy as a matter of urgency,” said Peter Liese, spokesperson on environmental and climate policy for the largest political group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats), commenting on the European Commission's plans presented today.

In a so-called Clean Industrial Deal, the European Commission wants to facilitate and support the conditions for the production of batteries, hydrogen and other goods that are urgently needed for the energy transition. At the same time, energy-intensive companies will be supported in their transformation and obstacles removed from their path.

“I consider the acceleration of permitting procedures to be particularly important. The CEO of a big steel company told me that they need over 50 permits from different authorities to make their steel plant climate neutral. We can't go on like this. This is where the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act comes in. Of particular importance is the reduction of electricity prices for ordinary consumers and industry, which is at the centre of the Affordable Energy Action Plan. Electricity is the fuel of the energy transition and the energy source that can make us independent of Russia, Qatar and other problematic suppliers. Whether the heat pump for heating homes, the electric car for private transport or the electrification of industrial processes - the solution lies not exclusively, but often in electricity. The high electricity prices in the European Union are therefore a nuisance in every respect and I welcome the fact that the Commission has proposed a whole package of measures to reduce electricity prices,” said Liese.

According to the MEP, the Commission's proposals to reduce bureaucracy can only be a first step. “The proposal to reduce bureaucracy under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is very good. It completely exempts 91% of all companies from reporting obligations under CBAM. Nevertheless, 99% of emissions will still be covered. I assume that a majority from the centre of the European Parliament will adopt this proposal within a few weeks. The proposals to cut red tape on due diligence (CSDDD) and corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) also go in the right direction. However, this can only be a first step because we need further omnibuses as soon as possible. Only with an entire fleet of omnibuses can we lighten the bureaucratic burden on people and companies and thus bring fresh energy into our economy,” emphasised Liese.